Loggers, Mariners win at Western A Legion; Lakers, Twins fall

HAMILTON — Libby and Mission Valley started the Western A district Legion tournament on the right foot Thursday, picking up wins in the opening round.

Libby defeated Missoula 10-4 in the opener thanks to a pair of doubles from Bransen Holzer and Boe Miles. 

The Mariners used a hot start to race past the Twins 10-0 in the nightcap, after a 4-for-4 performance from Holden Emerson with four RBIs and three runs scored. 

In the middle game Cranbrook jumped on Kalispell for a 15-2 victory. 

Bandits 15, Lakers 2

Dallin Rodger went 3-for-3 for the Bandits, driving in six runs in the win as Cranbrook scored five in the opening frame. 

Clark Reimer hit a two-run double in the third to help the Bandits (26-15) to a 10-0 advantage. 

Blake Paulsen tripled and scored in the fourth to put Kalispell (11-26) on the board, but Cranbrook's offense was too much. 

Rodger hit his third single of the game in the bottom of the fourth to make it 13-1. He helped his cause on the mound, going four innings, allowing one run on three hits. 

Kalispell plays the Glacier Twins Friday in an elimination game at 1 p.m. while Cranbrook advances to a 4 p.m. matchup with Mission Valley. 

Loggers 10, Mavericks 4

Holzer's double scored a pair in the second inning and helped the Loggers out to a 4-1 advantage. 

They added three runs on errors in the fourth to extend the lead to 7-2. 

The two doubles along with a single from Jordan Griffin were Libby's only hits in the game. The Loggers (14-19) capitalized on six errors and 10 walks. 

Miles tossed 2 2-3 innings for Libby, allowing three runs on three hits. Kale Riddle added 2 1-3 innings of no-hit relief, while Dalton Cannon threw two innings, scattering a pair of hits and allowing one run. 

Libby advances to a 7 p.m. showdown with host Bitterroot (35-2) Friday. Missoula (17-21) faces the loser of Cranbrook and Mission Valley Saturday. 

Mariners 10, Twins 0

Tyler Barton tossed five scoreless innings and allowed two hits for the Mariners as they downed Glacier. 

Emerson was the story of the game, hitting three doubles and accounting for seven of the 10 Mission Valley (21-13) runs. 

Emerson's first double broke the scoreless tie in the first inning, scoring Cole Wadsworth. 

He added an RBI single in the second and brought in one each on his final two doubles in the fourth and fifth innings. 

An error allowed Hunter Luedtke to score in the sixth and trigger the run rule victory. 

Derek Juntunen and Ryder Conley had the two hits for Glacier (9-27).